
Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
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- PG
- 1h 49min
- Biography, Drama
- 11 Aug 1993 (USA)
- Movie
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Max Pomeranc | ... |
Josh Waitzkin
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Joe Mantegna | ... |
Fred Waitzkin
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Joan Allen | ... |
Bonnie Waitzkin
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Ben Kingsley | ... |
Bruce Pandolfini
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Laurence Fishburne | ... |
Vinnie
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Michael Nirenberg | ... |
Jonathan Poe
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Robert Stephens | ... |
Poe's Teacher
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David Paymer | ... |
Kalev
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Hal Scardino | ... |
Morgan
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Vasek Simek | ... |
Russian Park Player
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William H. Macy | ... |
Tunafish Father
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Dan Hedaya | ... |
Tournament Director
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Laura Linney | ... |
School Teacher
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Anthony Heald | ... |
Fighting Parent
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Steven Randazzo | ... |
Man of Many Signals
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Chelsea Moore | ... |
Katya Waitzkin
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Josh Mostel | ... |
Chess Club Regular
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Josh Kornbluth | ... |
Chess Club Regular
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Tony Shalhoub | ... |
Chess Club Member
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Austin Pendleton | ... |
Asa Hoffman
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Tom McGowan | ... |
Reporter
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Ona Fletcher | ... |
Reporter
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Kamran Shirazi | ... |
Kamran Shirazi
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Joel Benjamin | ... |
Joel Benjamin
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Roman Dzindzichashvili | ... |
Roman Dzindzichashvili
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Jerry Poe McClinton | ... |
Park Player
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Matt De Matt | ... |
Night Park Player
(as Matt De Matt Reines)
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Vincent Smith | ... |
Washington Square Patzers
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Jerry Rakow | ... |
Washington Square Patzers
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William Colgate | ... |
Statistician
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Tony De Santis | ... |
Journalist
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R.D. Reid | ... |
Final Tournament Director
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Anthony McGowen | ... |
Park Dealer
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Katya Waitzkin | ... |
82nd Girl
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Ryder Fleming-Jones | ... |
Petey
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Harris Krofchick | ... |
Running Chess Kid
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John Bourgeois | ... |
Gym Parent
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Maria Ricossa | ... |
Gym Parent
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Caroline Yeager | ... |
Screaming Mom
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Andrew Sardella | ... |
Josh's Syracuse Opponent
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Nathan Carter | ... |
Josh's Teammate
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Nicholas Taylor | ... |
Birthday Friend
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Jonathan Fazio | ... |
Birthday Friend
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Nicky Mellina | ... |
Birthday Friend
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Philip Neiman | ... |
Birthday Friend
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Elizabeth Gropman | ... |
Birthday Friend
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Bobby Fischer | ... |
Bobby Fischer (archiveFootage)
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Matt Birman | ... |
Father (uncredited)
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Robert Anthony Carswell | ... |
Parent Pacing in Locker Room (uncredited)
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James Garrigan | ... |
Cyclist (uncredited)
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Bruce Pandolfini | ... |
Man in Washington Park (uncredited)
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Edd Scorpio | ... |
Chess Competitor (uncredited)
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Thomas Spindler | ... |
Bobby's Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
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Josh Waitzkin | ... |
Chess Player in Washington Square (uncredited)
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Directed by
Steven Zaillian |
Written by
Fred Waitzkin | ... | (book) |
Steven Zaillian | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
William Horberg | ... | producer |
Sydney Pollack | ... | executive producer |
Scott Rudin | ... | producer |
David Wisnievitz | ... | co-producer |
Music by
James Horner |
Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Wayne Wahrman |
Editorial Department
Henry J. Golas | ... | post-production |
Debra Kahn Tolchinsky | ... | first assistant editor |
Lynel Moore | ... | assistant editor (as Lynel Moore Cioffi) |
Theresa Repola Mohammed | ... | negative cutter |
Ronald Roose | ... | additional editor |
Mike Stanwick | ... | color timer |
Dawn M. Stoliar | ... | assistant editor |
Pete Watson | ... | assistant editor (as Peter Watson) |
Casting By
Tina Gerussi | ||
Avy Kaufman |
Production Design by
David Gropman |
Art Direction by
Gregory P. Keen |
Set Decoration by
Steve Shewchuk |
Costume Design by
Julie Weiss |
Makeup Department
Paul R.J. Elliot | ... | hair stylist |
Linda Gill | ... | makeup artist |
Cynthia Patton | ... | assistant hair stylist |
Production Management
David Coatsworth | ... | unit production manager |
Jonathan Filley | ... | unit production manager |
Michael Tadross | ... | executive in charge of production (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stuart Feldman | ... | dga trainee |
Walter Gasparovic | ... | assistant director |
Tony Gittelson | ... | assistant director |
Burtt Harris | ... | assistant director |
Grant Lucibello | ... | third assistant director |
Juan Ros | ... | second second assistant director |
Rose Tedesco | ... | second second assistant director |
Stuart Williams | ... | trainee assistant director |
Art Department
Conrad V. Brink Jr. | ... | assistant props: New York |
Dennis Davenport | ... | first assistant art director |
James Halpenny | ... | construction coordinator |
Jason Herriott | ... | scenic artist |
Peter Hudecki | ... | storyboard artist |
Denis Kirkham | ... | set dresser |
Doug McLean | ... | assistant art director |
Robert S. Smith | ... | carpenter |
Richard M. Snider | ... | key greens |
Mark O'Donoghue | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Steve Bartkowicz | ... | re-recording engineer |
Patrick Bietz | ... | sound editor |
Gary C. Bourgeois | ... | re-recording mixer |
Desmond Cannon | ... | assistant sound editor |
Paul Cartledge | ... | adr recordist |
John Chalfant | ... | sound effects editor |
Thierry J. Couturier | ... | sound editor |
Ken Dufva | ... | foley artist |
Leslie Gaulin | ... | foley editor |
Eric Gotthelf | ... | foley mixer |
Scott D. Jackson | ... | foley supervisor |
Nicholas Korda | ... | sound editor (as Nicholas Vincent Korda) |
David Lee | ... | sound mixer |
Michael Magill | ... | dialogue editor |
Sanjay Mehta | ... | cable puller |
Scott Millan | ... | re-recording mixer |
James Moriana | ... | foley artist |
Paul O'Bryan | ... | assistant sound editor |
Elmo Ponsdomenech | ... | re-recording mixer |
Catherine Rowe | ... | foley artist |
Joan Rowe | ... | foley artist |
Beth Sterner | ... | supervising sound editor |
Steve Switzer | ... | boom operator |
Kimberly Lambert Gibson | ... | dialogue editor (uncredited) |
Chuck Michael | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
Jason Board | ... | special effects |
Bob Hall | ... | special effects |
Troy Rundle | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Ralph Brandofino | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (1993) |
Ciaran Copelin | ... | second assistant camera |
David Crone | ... | steadicam operator |
Dennis Gamiello | ... | key grip: new york |
Tony Guerin | ... | assistant camera |
Rob Hahn | ... | additional photographer (as Robert Hahn) / camera operator (as Robert Hahn) |
Kerry Hayes | ... | still photographer |
Nils Johnson | ... | key video assist operator: New York |
Andy Langevin | ... | rigging best boy |
Jim MacCammon | ... | gaffer (as James MacCammon) |
Gary Muller | ... | first assistant camera: New York |
Tom Priestley Jr. | ... | camera operator |
Rick Raphael | ... | steadicam operator |
Jim Reischl | ... | electric department |
Ron Renzetti | ... | dolly grip |
Gerard Sava | ... | assistant camera |
Randy Tambling | ... | key grip |
Gary Deneault | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
Douglas Pellegrino | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elizabeth Holder | ... | wardrobe production assistant |
Location Management
Maria T. Bierniak | ... | assistant location manager |
Fred Kamping | ... | location manager |
Daniel Strol | ... | location manager: New York |
Douglas Tirola | ... | location manager |
Music Department
Leanne Becknell | ... | musician: oboe |
Bob Bornstein | ... | music preparation |
Norman Ludwin | ... | musician: bass |
Shawn Murphy | ... | score mixer |
Thomas Pasatieri | ... | orchestrator |
James Thatcher | ... | musician: French horn |
Robert Adcock | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
Murray Adler | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
Dale Anderson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
Mimi Wolch | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
Dave Marwick | ... | production driver |
William L. Tataryn | ... | driver: Sir Ben Kingsley |
Robert Tenaglia | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
Alexis Alexanian | ... | production coordinator |
Brandon Camp | ... | assistant: Mr. Rudin |
Robert Dawson | ... | title designer |
David Hummel | ... | production assistant |
Michelle L. Keiser | ... | production assistant |
Lisa Medwid | ... | assistant: Mr. Horberg |
Veronica Miller | ... | first assistant accountant |
Eric Myers | ... | unit publicist |
Donna Ostroff | ... | assistant: Mr. Pollack |
Mike Thompson | ... | assistant: Mr. Rudin |
D. Gregor Hagey | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Jim McCarthy | ... | production accountant (uncredited) |
Lisa Wilhoit | ... | additional voices (uncredited) |
Thanks
Pal Benko | ... | the producers wish to thank: United States Chess Federation |
Harry Benson | ... | the producers wish to thank: Harry Benson Photography |
Sandra Johnson | ... | the producers wish to thank: Ontario Film Development |
Svetozar D. Jovanovic | ... | the producers wish to thank: United States Chess Federation |
Patrick Lewis | ... | the producers wish to thank: United States Chess Federation |
Albert Maysles | ... | the producers wish to thank: Maysles Films |
Bruce Pandolfini | ... | special thanks |
Hanon Russell | ... | the producers wish to thank: The Dalton School |
Bonnie Waitzkin | ... | special thanks |
Fred Waitzkin | ... | special thanks |
Josh Waitzkin | ... | special thanks |
Katya Waitzkin | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1993) (United States) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1993) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1994) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
- CIC Video (1994) (Germany) (VHS)
- Paramount Pictures (1994) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- United International Pictures (1994) (Argentina)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1997) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Disney Channel (1999) (United States) (tv)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Trifecta Entertainment and Media (2011) (World-wide) (tv) (syndicated print)
- Warner Archive Collection (2013) (United States) (DVD)
- Paramount Channel (2020) (France) (tv)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
- Pluto TV (2021) (United States) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Big Screen Records (soundtrack published by)
- Cinema Research (titles and opticals)
- Film House (dailies)
- Inter Video (24 frame video playback)
- La-La Land Records (soundtrack) (limited edition)
- Pacific Studios II (chromatrans background)
- Panavision (camera and lenses)
- Paramount Pictures (production services)
- Todd-AO Scoring Stage (score recorded at)
- William F. White International (grip and lighting equipment)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
Josh Waitzkin is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father at chess and wins. Showing unusual precocity at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh's parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce, who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way Josh becomes tired of Bruce's system and chess in general and purposely throws a match, leaving the prospects of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy.
Written by Rick Gregory |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | Every journey begins with a single move. See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
Budget | $12,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Max Pomeranc was chosen because he is, in real life, a chess player (or was at the time of this movie). The producers wanted someone who would be at ease and "correctly" playing chess. None of this movie's other stars played chess in the beginning, but eventually Joe Mantegna learned. See more » |
Goofs | Josh tells Vinnie he learned the "Schliemann Attack" from his teacher. Actually there's no such thing. It's the Schliemann Defense. Also, when Vinnie asks, "What's that?" referring to the "attack," Josh actually hasn't yet made the move that would prompt him to say this, he's just playing the opening move of the standard Ruy Lopez (1. ... e5), so there'd be no reason for Vinnie to say "What's that?" at that point. The move that makes it "Schliemann" (3. ...f5) hasn't yet been played. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in Rising Sun/Tom and Jerry: The Movie/Robin Hood: Men in Tights/So I Married an Axe Murderer/Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993). See more » |
Soundtracks | Enough Is Enough See more » |
Quotes |
Josh:
Maybe it's better not to be the best. Then you can lose and it's OK. See more » |